Back to Glossary
Planetary Nebula
An expanding shell of ionized gas ejected from a red giant star in the late stages of stellar evolution. Despite the name, it has no connection to planets. The glowing gas is illuminated by the hot core of the dying star.
Source: science.nasa.gov
APODs including "Planetary Nebula"
The Cat's Eye Nebula
26/08/2012
In the Glare of Alpha Centauri
28/06/2012
M57: The Ring Nebula
20/04/2012
M46 & M47: Star Clusters Young and Old
03/04/2012
The Helix Nebula from the VISTA Telescope
31/01/2012
NGC 6369: The Little Ghost Nebula
14/01/2012
M27: The Dumbbell Nebula
27/12/2011
The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble
13/11/2011
M27: Not a Comet
01/09/2011
Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula
16/08/2011
MyCn18: An Hourglass Planetary Nebula
07/08/2011
NGC 6188 and NGC 6164
28/07/2011
NGC 3132: The Eight Burst Nebula
26/06/2011
The Cat's Eye Nebula from Hubble
24/04/2011
Planetary Nebula NGC 2438
07/04/2011
Planetary Nebula Project
18/02/2011
NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula
08/01/2011
The Necklace Nebula
03/11/2010
Methuselah Nebula MWP1
21/10/2010
An Extraordinary Spiral from LL Pegasi
14/09/2010
M27: Not a Comet
26/08/2010
Messier 76
23/07/2010
The Red Rectangle Nebula from Hubble
14/06/2010
The Medusa Nebula
12/06/2010
Halo of the Cat's Eye
09/05/2010
Northern and Southern Owls
06/05/2010
Planetary Nebula Mz3: The Ant Nebula
25/04/2010
IC 418: The Spirograph Nebula
11/04/2010
NGC 2440: Cocoon of a New White Dwarf
21/02/2010
Dust and the Helix Nebula
31/12/2009